Congratulations to award winners at theriogenology conference!

At this years combined annual conference of the
American College of Theriogenologists (ACT) and the Society for
Theriogenologists (SFT), a resident and two students from the College of
Veterinary Medicine participated in the Dr. Jerry Rains Memorial Abstract
Competition. From all abstracts submitted for the competition, the top eight
scoring abstracts were selected for oral presentations during the meeting.
Monetary prizes were awarded to the top four abstracts.

The first place award winner was Dr. Betsy Coffman,
resident in Comparative Theriogenology and Reproductive Medicine, for her
abstract “Effect of electroejaculation on behavioral and hormonal indicators of
stress and nociception in beef bulls”. The research for this project was
performed while Dr. Coffman was at the University of Tennessee working with her
mentor, Dr. Brian Whitlock. Co-authors for this project were Elizabeth Coffman,
Brian K. Whitlock, Joseph A. Daniels, and Hans C. Coetzee.

Derek Howell, an undergraduate summer research
scholar and student in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Class of 2016,
received third place for his abstract “Effects of lactoferrin on stallion sperm
survival and function in vitro”. Co-authors for this project were Derek G.
Howell, Erin E. Clark, Carlos R.F. Pinto, Kimberly Cole, and Marco A. Coutinho
da Silva. Dr. da Silva served as Derek’s advisor, and Dr. Pinto was his
co-advisor.

Fourth place was awarded to Brandon Forshey, student
in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Class of 2013 and MS student, for his
project “Effects of decreasing doses of follicle-stimulating hormone on
multiple ovulations and embryo production in alpacas”. Co-authors for the
abstract were Brandon S. Forshey, Elizabeth A. Coffman, Chelsey A.
Messerschmidt, Jeffrey Lakritz, Carlos R.F. Pinto, and Marco A. Coutinho da
Silva. Dr. da Silva is Brandon’s advisor.